DANDENONG JOURNAL
Connecting people and communities
Policemen’s blade threat A MAN has been refused bail after allegedly confronting police officers with a bladed weapon while burgling a Dandenong chemist. Qasim Alimovski of Dandenong had spent 55 days remanded in custody before Tuesday’s bail application over what Magistrate Greg Connellan described as an “escalation of offences”. Mr Connellan deemed Alimovski, who was being treated for psychosis, was an “unacceptable risk” of re-offending. In the first of the allegations, Alimovski blew smoke into a smoke alarm at Dandenong Hospital’s mental health unit in the hope of releasing fire doors for all of the units. Police informant Senior Constable Daniel Jelley told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court that the applicant had earlier been refused access to pick up his friend from the unit. After his arrest that day he allegedly threatened his wife at knifepoint at home. The court was told Alimovski demanded $1000 or he would pour petrol on her and burn her, as well as threatening to burn down her parents’ house. Soon after, as Alimovski was being driven to a friend’s house, he allegedly pulled a
knife on his brother. A subsequent police search failed to find the knife. While on bail over those allegations, Alimovski allegedly stole a bike in Thomas Street, Dandenong, and rode to Chemist Warehouse in Lonsdale Street early on 16 January. Sen Const Jelley said he smashed a rooftop window at the chemist and allegedly stole a packet of toilet paper, a meat cleaver and ice creams. He also took a sauce bottle, poured it over a computer and its hard drive and caused $2000 damage, stealing $100 of items including paracetamol tablets, chocolate bars, mini-torches and a Chemist Warehouse jacket. Two police officers, who entered the building with the chemist’s manager, were “confronted” by the applicant holding what was variously described as a “meat cleaver” or “butcher’s knife”. As he advanced at police, an apparently “drug affected” and “delusional” Alimovski was squirted with capsicum spray and handcuffed, Sen Const Jelley told the court. The applicant was deemed unsuitable for a police interview at the time due to his “psychotic state”. From the dock, Alimovski vehemently denied he had a
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drug problem though police alleged he’d admitted to an ice habit. Police conceded they had never found the applicant with illicit drugs. Alimovski’s lawyer Adrian Desi argued that his time in custody had exceeded the likely sentence for the allegations, all of which his client denied. “The picture that is being painted is of a man not getting support (from health services).” Mr Desi said his client had complied with treatment in remand and was likely to receive on-going treatment if granted bail. Monash Health forensic nurse Donna Kendall told the court there were no available psychiatric beds in the state. She said there would be “concerns” about Alimovski reattending Dandenong Hospital. Mr Connellan said he was concerned that Alimovski appeared to lack insight into his condition and would not “engage with the hospital system”. “If I got an assessment that he has insight and there’s a bed in the outside (health) system, your case would be stronger.” Alimovski was remanded in custody to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 3 March.
1 Feb to 31 March
201508001-PB08-15
By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
Monday, 16 February, 2015 Page 7
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